Washington, D.C. - November 9, 1999 - Attached is a news release from the Network
Reliability and Interoperability Council (NRIC) on a report to the FCC on the U.S.
telecommunications industry assessment of Year 2000 readiness.

The report states that based on input from telecommunications companies across the
U.S., the industry's Y2K readiness is "virtually complete" with its remediation and
implementation programs. NRIC reports that local and long distance telecommunications
services are expected to continue to function on and after January 1, 2000.

The report includes assessments of the U.S. telecommunications industry, network
reliability, international telecommunications networks, network access and industry-wide
contingency planning.

Earlier Y2K reports issued by the FCC include a Supplemental Y2K Communications
Sector report based on data received from companies in June 1999, and its initial report in
March 1999 based on 1998 data. Copies of the Supplement and the original report are available
on the FCC's Year 2000 Task Force Website at: www.fcc.gov/year2000